Bulgaria ends gas rationing

Bulgaria's prime minister says gas rationing has been lifted and the country will seek compensation for losses due to the two-week halt in Russian natural gas deliveries.

"The Bulgarian economy no longer needs gas rationing," Sergei Stanishev said on Wednesday.

Bulgaria will seek compensation for the losses through additional gas deliveries from Russia at a discount price, Stanishev said. He also pledged to speed up moves to reduce Bulgaria's dependence on Russian energy.

According to Economy Minister Petar Dimitrov, the shortfall in Russian gas supplied to Bulgaria during the crisis amounts to 124 million cubic meters.

He said Bulgarian businesses have reported direct losses of over euro85 million ($112 million), while indirect losses, including lost profit, were yet to be tallied.